Biography of WILLIAM M. STEPHENS--Falls County, Texas

From: "Biographies from The Lone Star State" Published by the Lewis
Publishing Company--1893.

Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jane Stephens Rhem
Prepared by: Candy Grubb
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			Stephens & Related Families

	William M. Stephens is a son of Enoch Stephens, who was born in
Kentucky, and went thence to Alabama, where he married and died, in 
Talladega county.  By occupation he was a farmer, and in politics a 
Democrat.  The family are of Irish descent.  The mother of our subject
was Amanda Anderson, a native of South Carolina, who went thence to
Alabama, where she married Mr. Stephens.  Her parents were natives of
South Carolina.  The marriage of the parents of our subject took place
in 1838, and three children were born to them, the oldest of whom is
our subject.  His sister, Rebecca, is now the wife of a Methodist
minister in Texas, named Rev. J.M. Mills, and his only brother, James,
was killed at Chancellorsville, in the Confederate service.  The mother
of our subject married a second time, in 1847, and to her and her husband,
Andrew Murphy, five children were born: Sarah, wife of a Mr. Miller, lives
in Georgia; Nancy, wife of James Miller, lives in Georgia; Bettie is the
wife of Jack Peoples; Mollie is the wife of Madison Nipple; and Emma is
the wife of John M. Lucas.  The mother died in 1862, and had been a 
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
	The birth of our subject took place in Alabama in 1839, and he 
resided with his mother until 1849, and then went to his uncle, J.W.
Anderson, who was his guardian, remaining with him until the age of sixteen,
and working on the farm.  He then returned to his stepfather, Mr. Murphy,
with whom he remained four years, and then attended school for six months.
In 1860 he went to work for Joe Murphy, who paid him $100, the first 
money he ever earned.  He married then and returned to Georgia, where he
superintended a flouring mill for Andrew Murphy (Note--This was in Fayette
County,Georgia), and was to receive $100 and board for himself and wife.
Here he reamined until 1861, when he took his wife back to her people
and enlisted in the Confederate Army, in Company D, under Captain R.
Draper, Fifty-first Alabama Cavalry, under John T. Morgan.  Our subject
was captured twice, the first time at La Vergne, Tennessee, but he escaped
under the following circumstances:  He was put into the penitentiary at
Nashville, Tennessee, and escaped by the assistance of a lady, who 
furnished him with a rope, by which he lowered himself from a window.
He returned to his command, but was captured again at Shelbyville.  He
was then taken to Delaware Island, Ohio, and there kept a prisoner for
two years.  He was captured before the Gettysburg fight, after which 
there were 9,000 prisoners.  Our subject refused to take the oath of
allegiance, and reamined two years in prison, and he made from $5 to $10
a day selling jewelry to Union visitors.  After the surrender of Lee he
returned to Calhoun county, Alabama, to his wife and child, whom he had
not seen for over three years.  When he returned home he had but $20, 
which he spent for a cow and pig, and started for Texas in 1866.  He first
located at Fort Sullivan, where he remained three years, and then removed 
to Falls county.  One year after coming to Falls county, in the fall of 
1870, he bought a part of the place he now owns.  Here he remained until 
1882, and then removed into Kosse to educate his family.
	He married Martha Cobb, a native of Alabama, a daughter of Nathaniel
Cobb, a native of South Carolina and seven children have been born to
them: Wallace, lives near Kansas; John M. and Milton, live in Kosse; 
Willy Ann was educated at the female institute of Sherman, and is a teacher
in that city; Ophelia, educated at the same institute, is a primary
teacher in Kosse; Alice and Maggie are at home.
	Our subject started for himself when nineteen years old, landed in
Texas with about $20 and a team, after spending eight weeks on the road.
At present he has 900 acres, 400 under cultivation, twenty head of mules,
twenty horses, and town property, also about 100 head of cattle in
Crockett county.  He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, and
Mr. Stephens is an ardent Democrat, a K. of H. (Knights of Honor) and an
Odd Fellow.
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---Notes:
John M. Stephens (son of William) married Anna Jo Rogers (of Kosse).
John & Anna (Rogers) Stephens' son Roger W. Stephens married Elizabeth
Cooley (from Waco or Cameron) and Roger W. and Elizabeth (Cooley) Stephens'
son Roger William Stephens Jr. married Clara E. Freeman (of Marion, 
Shackelford County)--Roger William Stephens Jr. and Clara E. (Freeman) 
Stephens are the parents of Jane Stephens Rhem, the contributor of this file.
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